Swaths of South Lubbock neighborhoods will be removed from flood zone designation, while a few areas will be added, in a new flood map released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and set to take effect Jan. 2.

The map shows benefits from Lubbock’s South Central Drainage Improvement Project, completed in the mid-2000s, and likely means many property owners will no longer have to buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, said Steven Nelson, a civil engineer with Lubbock Storm Water Management.

Nelson said the affected area runs mostly along South Loop 289 between McAlister Park and Clapp Park — areas that benefited from the $36.5 million drainage project that aimed to move floodwaters away from the city via 13.6 miles of 24-inch to 72-inch pipeline, according to the Parkhill, Smith & Cooper Engineering firm.

Most property insurance policies do not cover the effects of a flood, according to a FEMA news release.

“Before the maps are final, state, local and federal officials are encouraging everyone to view the maps to understand their flood risk and consider purchasing flood insurance,” the release states.